Mast-hoop.



PATENTED MAY 12; 1903. R. W. VAIL. l

MAST HOOP.

APPLICATION FILED Nov .'2s. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

I UNITED STATE Patented May 12, 1903.

ROBERT WILLIAM VAIL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAST-HOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,719, dated May 12,1903.

Application filed November 28, 1902. Serialllo. 133,018. (No model.) i

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT WILLIAM VAIL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Mast-Hoopsfof which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to mast-hoops, and especially to that class ofthese devices for holding sails in their relation to the masts or sparsof vessels without lashing; and the invention has for its object tocombine the maximum of strength and efficiency with the minimum ofweight and cost of manufacture. My improved mast-hoop is designed moreespecially for use upon small-vessels, such as yachts and other pleasureand racing crafts, as it is made of sheet metal, such as aluminium ornickeled steel or brass, which can present the most attractiveappearance, while from the special configuration which I give to thebody of the hoop great rigidity without clumsiness is obtained, combinedwith lightness and symmetry. The invention, however, is equallyserviceable when applied for use upon the masts of the largest vessels,as my improved hoop can be made as heavy as desired without sacrificingthe advantages due to its principle and construction.

Briefly speaking, my invention consistsin a separable mast-hoop thesections of which are formed from sheet metal stamped ,or drawn intosingle, double, or multiple-cur'ves in cross-section, such sectionsbeing hinged or pivoted together at their rearextremities and preferablyelongated toward their front ends, so as to depart somewhat from thetrue circle, and then bent again at these front extremities, and soconfigurated as to afford novel and efficient means for receiving andholding the sail-rope and the cringle or eye of the sail.

For full comprehension of the details of construction"reference must behad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,wherein similar reference characters indicate like'parts.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is aplan View of my mast-hoop with thesections closed and keyed together. Fig. 2 is a section taken on theline mac, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail'sectional plan View ofparts of the sections, showing the meeting ends with the sailrope, partof the sail, and a cringle held in operative position thereby. Fig. 4 isan enlarged view of a preferred form of hinge-joint.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the lineyy,

tain curve in the direction of their length,

by preference one which is semicircular in cross-section, as representedin the drawings; but a plurality of' bends or curves may be imparted tothe metal, the former being suitable for very light hoops, and thelatter may be preferred for the heavier class.

To form the hinge connection at the rear side of the hoop, the endsofthe sections 4 4 are compressed and somewhat flattened in a planeapproximately at right angles to the curves, so as to form a lug orflange 5, one upon each section, of two thicknesses of metal, and apivot is provided therefor by passing the bolt 5 through the four thicknesses thus presented. This particular construction, however, is notessential, as the hinge-joint may be otherwise formed according tojudgment.

The sections 4 4 while forming a circle throughout the greater .part oftheir length are preferably turned somewhat tangentially at theirforward ends, as at 4*, to impart extra strength to the structure andallow of extra space for manipulation. The meeting faces of theseforward parts are indented, so as to form a recess 7 to receive thesail-rope, and cup-shaped formation is given to the end of each section,as at 8 8, the convexities thereof coming together. The dimensions ofthese cup-shaped ends 8 will be such that they may meet within thecripgle or eye of a sail, but not bind the same, freedom of movementbeing desirable at these points when the sail is in position.

The cup-shaped ends 8 8 are secured to- ICO gether by the key 6, thebent end or ward 10 of which is passed through suitably-formedperforations in the members 8. The perforations in one member may be aslot 11, having a reduced end, as seen in Fig. 2, and that in the othermember a hole forming a socket suitably shaped to receive the inner endof a knob which forms the handle portion of the key 6 and prevent itfrom dropping out after it has beeninserted and turned to lock the partstogether. The locking portion or stem of the key is ofalength betweenthe ward and the knobjust sufficient to easily receive the twothicknesses of metal forming the cup-shaped members 8 and to hold thesame firmly together without rattling.

The operation of the device will be apparent; but I may explain that thesections 4 4 are opened to place the same around the mast. The sail andits rope are then inserted in the usual way and the cup'shaped endsbrought together within the cringle or sail-eye, the rope finding alodgment in the recess 7. The key 6 is then inserted through theapertures in the cup-shaped ends 8 8 and turned so as to lock the same,the knob portion simultaneously finding a lodgment in the recess formedto receive it and prevent it from turning.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details ofconstruction and arrangement as herein describedandillustrated, as it ismanifest thatvariations and modifications may be made in the features ofconstruction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to variousconditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope ofmyinvention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all suchvariation and modification as properly fall within the scope of myinvention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. A mast-hoop made up of two approximately semicircularsections of sheet metal cavo-convex in cross-section, and each bent'into semicircular form for the greater por' tion of their length andthen splayed outward and terminating toward their front ends incup-shaped members, and a key for securing same, substantially as setforth.

3. In a mast-hoop, thecombination of two pivotally-connected sections ofsheet metal concavo-convex in cross-section, semicircular for thegreater portion of their length but having tangentially-bent meetingends, a recess for the sail-rope formed by indenting such meeting ends,and cup-shaped terminations the convexities of which are adapted to meetwithin a cringle or sail-eye, perforations in said cup-shapedterminations and a key adapted to be passed through and turned in saidperforations to lock the same together, substantially as set forth.

4. A mast-hoop made up of two approximately semicircular sections ofsheet metal drawn into concavoconvex shape in crosssection, having theirrear ends flattened approximately at right angles to their curves so asto present four interlocking thicknesses perforated and provided with apivot-pin passing therethrough, and said semicircular sectionsterminating toward their front ends in cup-shaped members theeonvexities of which approach each other, and provided with means forsecuring such front ends together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT 'VVILLIAM VAIL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. DAVIDS, J. G. PYBAS.

